Hot-air furnace



No. 751,136. PALBlWTED PBB. 2`,'1904. E. W. ANTHUNY. HOT AIR PURNAGE.

No MODEL, APPLIOATION FILED PEB. 7. 190s. 4 SHEBTS SHEET 1,

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No. 751,136. PATENTBD EEB. 2. 1904.

B. W. ANTHONY. 1

HOT AIR PURNAGE.

ArrLIoATIoN FILED rma. v. 1903.

No MODEL. 4 SHEETS-snm z.

No. 751,136. PATENTED PEB. 2, 1904'l E. W. ANTHONY.

HOT AIR PURNAGB.

APPLIoATroN FILED Las. v. 190s. No MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEETS.

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- E. W. ANTHONY.

HOT AIR TEENAGE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED rma. 7. laos.

No norm.. 4 sums-snm: 4.

UNITED STATES Patented February 2, 1904,.

PATENT OFFICE.

HOT-AIR FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,136, dated February 2, 1904.

Application led February '7, 1903. Serial No. 142,431. (No model.)

T0 all wil/0771, ft 77111.17/ concern:

Be it known that 1, EDGAR 1V. ANTHONY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hot-Air Furnaces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciication, in explaining its nature.

My invention relates to an improved hotair furnace.

It is especially desirable in the construction of a hot-air furnace that as large an amount of radiating-surface as possible be presented to the currents of air flowing through its various passages. It is also desirable that the walls forming these radiating-surfaces have such an arrangementwithin the combustionchamber or placement relatively thereto that they will be acted upon as quickly as possible by the heat rising from the products of combustion or before it has lost its intensity by long-continued flow. There should also be a uniformity in the arrangement of these radiating-wallsin order that the products of combustion may best be utilized. sages which they form and through which the currents of air flow should be distributed in uniform order throughout or relative to the combustion chamber that the heat rising therein and filling the chamber may act evenly upon the walls forming these passages and so heat the air flowing within them. It is also desirable that the flow of heat be as direct and free as possible to the smoke or exit pipe of the furnace, so tending to make a good circulation by cutting out chambers or flue-passages where dead air might accumulate. Still the flow of heat should not be too quick lest its intensity be lost, but should rather be retarded to flow slowly along the radiating-surfaces. Another very important feature in furnace construction is that the flue-passages for the products of combustion be such that they are not clogged with soot. Many good heaters-of large radiating-surface have been short-lived and condemned because of the impossibility of cleaning them after a seasons use. The construction of the furnace should also be such The pas-l that-the danger of gas leaking or the entry of dust into the air-passages be entirely eliminated.l

My invention consists, therefore, in an imi proved means for presenting as large an amount of heat-radiating surface as possible to heat the currents of air flowing through the passages which they tend to form; in such an arrangement of the walls and passages that they will be quickly acted upon by the heat of combustion and with a directness and uniformity of application; in such placement of the parts that the flue-passages for the products of combustion will mold the heat to ow with a direct instead of an indirect course to the smoke-pipe, still with placement such as to retard the flow, so that it will rather pass slowly than fiow quickly, thus tending to better obtain, direct, and utilize the circulation of heat from the products of combustion; in such placement of the parts that the said iiuepassages will be practically self-cleaning from soot, and in a method of jointure of the parts tending to prevent the entry of gas or dust into the air-passages, which method of jointure also permits of an adjustment of the upper parts of the furnace and smoke-pipe, as

vwill hereinafter be shown.

My invention pertains also to other features which tend to the betterment of the furnace, but which, with the features before referred to, can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings forming a part of this specification, whereinw Figure 1 represents the furnace partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross-section. Fig. 2 shows a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4l shows in plan a feature of.my improved structure to which special reference will hereinafter be made.

Referring to the drawings, A represents thev IOO the air of course being heated by the products of combustion as it rises from the coldair chamber toward the dome of the furnace.-

These features present no peculiarities of construction or method of arrangement, but as features common to furnaces are referred to to show the relative relation of the new parts and arrangement of the parts constituting' my invention. This primarily consists in a new way of forming the interior of the furnace above the fire-pot or for so directingthe air rising from the cold-air chamber through the chambers and passages that it can best be acted upon by the heat rising from the products of combustion. The means by which this is done are as follows:

B represents an annular plate encircling the top edge of the fire-pot, to which it is secured by the cup jointure I), to extend out on all sides ange-like- The plate B has cut through it all around the circular openings b. These openings are cut at uniform distances from cach other. From the top edge of the fire-pot the extension of the plate B is such that it will leave a comparatively narrow annular space between its outer edge and the exterior shell of the furnace. This formation and disposition of the plate B is to be specially noted in the fact that it breaks the cold air rising' from the cold-air chamber to course up within the furnace through a variety of passages, which include thc annular passage which extends up from beyond the outer edge of said plate between it and the exterior shell of the furnace and those which connect with the circular'openings formed in the plate B and which pass up within the furnace to make connections, as will hereinafter be shown. The parts forming the walls of theseV several air-passages or flue are built upon the plate B as a superstructure. For the annular passage C, through which the air courses up in a comparatively thin blanket all around the furnace and which is formed on the outside by the exterior shell of the furnace, there is provided for its inside wall the tubular shell B', supplemented by the top or crown sheet B2. The tubular shell B rises upon the annular plate B along its outer edge and with which it makes a cup jointure 712 all around, and the top or crown sheet B2 tits on top of the shell B', making a cup jointure 3 all around its upper edge. The tubular shell B extends up on lines parallel with the exterior shell A of the furnace, but the side wall of the crown-sheet converges in slightly. The crown-sheet is formed substantially as represented, and its extension is such that its top plate is somewhat removed from the dome of the furnace, whereby there is formed the hotair chamber C'. There is therefore formed by the construction just described the shelllike structure which on the one side contines the heat and products of combustion and u pon thc other provides the annular air-passage U,

broadening out the top into the chamber C', with points of exit out through the distributingpassage A4, as before referred to. An opening b* is cut through the center of the crown-sheet B2, and through its opening as a mouth the products of combustion pass up through the smoke or exit pipe B3, the inner end of which is formed to make a cup jointure with the crown-sheet at the point b5 around the opening b* cut therein, and then extends laterally, in part, through the air-chamber C' and is inclined downward to lie alongside the wall of the crown-sheet within the groove or recess /G formed therein by its casting', and then proceeds laterally to a point of egress cut through the side of the furnace. The placement of the smoke-pipe is such as to enable the furnace to be placed in comparatively low confined places. By its placement also the pipe avoids interference with other necessary parts and its end is formed into an integral box-like structure If, carrying the means for draft regulation, which is readily accessible to a direct hand operation. The smoke-pipe is also worthy of mention in the fact that it is made integral throughout, which eliminates the danger of gas escaping, which it might do if the pipe were made jointed. By the smokepipe resting within the recess b, as aforesaid, it is held against any lateral displacement, and in this connection the hook 68 is to be noted as furthering the retention of the pipe, for with its shank fastened inside the wall of the smoke-pipe approximately at its inner end where it makes the jointure with the crownsheet and by its hook part fastening down beneath the edge of the opening cut in said sheet it tends to hold the smoke-pipe in place, counteracting its tendency to become overbalanced and so displaced by reason of its lateral extension.

As supplementary to the passages and chambers just described there are provided the air-passages C2, which lead up from the coldair chamber through the plate B and are formed by the pipes or flues B'i to course up inside the furnace to the common airchamber C3, which connects with the chamber C', as will hereinafter be explained. The pipes or lues B* have such placement as to continue the wall of the opening's formed through the annular plate B that they may direct the air-currents passing through them. They accordingly are fitted to the plate by a cup jointure L about the openings, to which each pipe corresponds. The pipes B* are of peculiar formation. At their base they are circular in form, but as they extend upvthey converge in over the fire-pot A, which, with the pipes being placed comparatively near together at their base and in order to retain thc same relative area throughout, necessitates that they be flattened or become of a more oval formation as they extend up until at their tops they are substantially of the for- IOO mation shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The pipes also are placed or come very near together as they extend up. The pipes are held locked in place at their base by the hooks bm, which in kind and function are like the hook bs, which holds the smoke-pipe in place, as before explained. They also counteract the normal tendency of the pipes to displacement by reason of their converging posture. The tops of the pipes B* are held supported in place by the annular plate B, with which each pipe along its upper edge makes a cup jointure 5u and with a placement such that the passages C2 through the several pipes may be continued through openings cut through the plate B and into the chamber C3. The chamber C3 is formed by combining the dome-like casting` B' with the annular pipe-supporting plate B5. The casting B is formed substantially as shown in Fig. 4. It has an annular dome-like structure, and the inclination of its exterior wall 711 and interior wall o is to be noted, especially when the casting is combined with the annular plate B5, which it is by the edge of its exterior wall 512, which fits upon the plate B5 along and around its outer edge and makes a cup jointure `71 therewith, while the inner wall of the casting B fits along its edge around the inner circular edge of the plate B5 and makes a cup jointure therewith, 615. The airchamber (l3 has communication with the airchamber C by means of a plurality of passages C". These passages are obtained by a plurality of openings cut through the dome of the casting Bi and up through the crown or top sheet B2, before referred to as forming the bottom wall of thc chamber (1Q-and the passages are formed by pipe connections provided by the pipe-sections 1, cast integral with the plate B", extending up and connecting with the pipe-sections 17, which extend down from the crown or top sheet B2 and arecast integral therewith, the pipe-sections where they come together making a cup jointure L18.

At B7 there is shown a small circular cover which fills the central opening left by the annular formation of the plate B5. This is removable for purposes which will hereinafter be explained.

Vith such placement and relative arrange` ment of the parts the heat and products of combustion would be inclosed in a chamber, as it were, on all sides above the fire-pot, and thc flow would be directed around and between the pipes forming the air-passages leading to the interior hot-air chamber and along beneath the bottom of said chamber, thence up alongside the tubular wall forming said annular passage, thence between the walls to the upper and interior air-chambers and around and between the pipes connecting said chambers to the central outlet formed in the bottom wall of the upper air-chamber, from whence it would be carried away by the smoke or exit pipe extending laterally. The rays of heat therefore would act upon the pipes B4, serving as radiators to the air-currents passing through them on all 'sides throughout their lengths. The oval formation of the pipes as they extend up would also tend to the better heating of the air within them, for the oval formation of thev pipe would mold the air to flow relatively shallow, whereby it would be more susceptible to heat influence. The direct application of heat to these pipes is also to be noted in the fact that converging in, as they do, over the fire-pot they would be exposed to the direct rays of heat when at its greatest intensity. The annular plate B5, acting as a bottom radiating-wall to the air-chamber C3, would also receive the heat directly, especially when the latter flowed between the pipes B' to course up through the annular passage C. In this connection the placement of the pipes Bi is to be notedin the fact that they are placed uniformly all around the firepot to receive the heat as it emanates therefrom. on all sides. Then they are placed relatively near together, with the spacing between them lessening as the pipes extend up, as before explained, which would tend to so mold the rays of heat flowing between them that they would be applied to the plate B', acting as a radiator to the currents of air passing through the annular passage B'all over its interior surface from the base up. The annular plate B", extending' out as it does to leave but a comparatively narrow passage between its outer edge and the shell B', would tend to retard the upward flow of heat, so storing it, as it were, in -the combustion-chamber, whereby its effect upon the radiating-walls would better be utilized. Continuing the heat passes up between the crown-sheet B2 and the annular casting B6, where it would heat the air confined in the upper portion of the passage C and that confined in the chamber C' on the one side and on the other it would heat the air confined in the chamber C3 by its action upon the wall B6 acting as a radiatingsurface. In point of fact the chamber C3 would be heated on all sides. The currents of air passing up from the air-chamber C3 to the chamber C would also be heated, for, as before explained, the passage of the heat is around and between the pipes, which serve as radiating-walls to these air-passages. Even the disposition of the smoke-pipe would tend to utilize the heat liiowing through it, for extending laterally through the chamber C, as it does, the heat passing through it would tend to heat the air confined in said chamber.

By such a construction practically all the heat from the products of combustion is utilized. The heat is also supplied to the heating-surfaces with a directness and uniformity of application, while the heating-surfaces in turn heat the currents of air divided to iow in relatively small volumes, which cordination is attended with the best results. The

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uniformity of heat distribution is primarily obtained, because alll the products of combustion are drawn to the central outlet at the center of the top of the furnace, from which outlet the heat products are led away through the smoke-pipe, as before described. The central disposition of the outlet permits also of the uniform disposition of the radiatingwalls, particularly those forming the interior air-chamber and its connecting, air-passages. It is also to be noted that the heat products pass directly from the lire-pot to the central outlet and the smoke-pipe connected with it, whereby there is obtained a perfect circulation through the furnace, which circulation is not too rapid, lest the eect of the heat be lost, but is retarded by the disposition of the radiating-walls, as before referred to, and which retardation is supplemented Vby the outlet-passage itself, which is of relatively small area,

and so prevents the heat passing away through the smoke-pipe too fast. The directn ess of circulation, however, prevents any tendency to stagnation.

Another feature consists in the aptitude of construction for preventing' the accumulation of soot. Following the course of the products of combustion, it is to be noted that the iiow for the most part is over inclined surfaces on which soot could hardly collect, so that the Hue-surfaces are practically self-cleaning. Any deposit of soot which might accumulate in the conical recess formed by the inside converging wall of the annular chamber B could readily be removed through the trap or cover B7, formed through the plate B", as before explained.

Another feature of construction consists in the combination of all the separate parts by means of a system of cup-jointure, the joints being formed deep, so as to be filled with sand, putty, or like substance, whereby any danger from the leakage of gas or the escape of dust into the air-passages is entirely eliminated. The method of cup-jointure is also noteworthy as furnishing a means of connection which permits of the rotation of the member B2 relatively to the member B' and the member or part B relatively to the member B5. As previously explained, the top or crown sheet B2 is made circular in form, and it rests upon the top edge of the tubular shell B', so that with suitable means of jointure, which is provided by the cup-jointure 3, a circular bearing is obtained and the member B2 is capable of rotation. It is the same with the member B6. Its cup-jointures b1* and 515 along the outer and inner edges of the annular plate B5 form suitable circular bearings, permitting of rotation. The members B2 and B6 will rotate together by reason of their pipe connection, as before explained, and their rotation will permit of or be accompanied by the rotary movement of the smoke or exit be removed in any direction to a position where the best pipe connection can be made. By the rotation of the parts B2B'3 also the position of the passages (3*, connecting the said chamber C and C3, can also be changed, whereby a pipe connection might easily be made with any of the hot-air-distributing pipes A", and in this connection it is to be noted that considerable difliculty has often been had with furnaces owing to the more direct connection that some pipes have over others or by reason of atmospheric conditions some rooms are very hard to heat. Any difliculty of this kind might be obviated or at least lessened by putting the hot-air-distributing pipes into direct communication with the inside heat-passages, so that they might lead directly into the distributing-pipes, and so the heat and circulation made positive for the rooms with which the distributing-pipes connect. Accordingly the rotative capability of the upper part of the furnace would facilitate any such pipe communication, if such were used.

Another feature and one which tends to the betterment of the furnace is the improved disposition of the damper D, placed in the end of the smoke-pipe and which tends to regulate the draft to the furnace by controlling the passage of said pipe, and simultaneously a cold-air inlet D, entering into the same. The cold-air inlet, it is to be noted, is formed in the bottom wall of the box formed in the end of the smoke-pipe, and the pipe-damper is pivoted to turn down to close it. This type of damper is common, so no special mention is made of its mode of operation. Now one very natural disadvantage in the ordinary construction is that by reason of the accumulation of soot the damper cannot turn down tight to close the cold-air inlet, as occasion might require. The soot lodges all around the inlet on the seat the damper would take, especially if it were fitted to close down flat. The soot also tends to cramp the damper at its pivot of turning. Any diiiiculty of this kind is entirely eliminated by so pivoting the damper at the point Z that it will not fit down close on the bottom of the box at d', surrounding the cold-air inlet, but will be removed from the same, so leaving a space Z2 in which soot might accumulate and still cause no injury. There thus is provided on the bottom of the damper the flange (Z3, which lits all around the edge of the cold-air inlet as a seat, tightly closing the inlet when the damper is shut down, and it is especially to be noted that the iange Z2 closes down on its seat with a beveled edge CZ* and a practically side contact, so that it would be impossible for the soot to accumulate so as to interfere with its proper closure. It is also to be noted that the point (Z,

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where the damper is pivoted, is removed some distance away from the bottom wall of the pipe, which not only prevents the damper being cramped by any accumulation of soot as it is turned, but also facilitates its even closure. The pivoting of the damper is accomplished by means of the handle Z5 fitting into slots CZ", formed in the segment (Z7, the handle tting into any of the slots, depending upon the degree of the damper-s opening or closure.

These latter features to which I have referred, however, for controlling the damper show no special novelty of construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. In a furnace or heater of the character specified, walls disposed to form a combustionchamber, having' in combination therewith, upon the inside of said combustion-chamber, a plurality of independent, hot-air pipes BAL curving upwardly and inwardly and arranged as specified, a plate for supporting said pipes, having holes formed therein in continuation of their hot-air passages, a dome-like casting fitting upon said plate to form an internal hotair chamber, and pipe connections leading from said casting to connect with the upper wall of the combustion-chamber to form hotair passages leading from said internal chamber through the upper -wall of said combustion-chamber.

2. In a furnace or heater of the character specified, the combination with walls forming a combustion-chamber 'of a series of internal hot-air passages, a relatively fiat plate B3 for holding said pipes in piace, a dome-like casting B'j having exterior and interior inclined sides 12 and L13, respectively, with exterior and interior bearings upon said plate when the members are joined, said casting having also integral pipe-sections forming in part hot-air passages leading from the inside of the internal hot-air chamber formed thereby, pipe connections forming a continuation of said hot-air passages through the upper wall of the combustion-chamber, a' smoke-outlet and smoke-pipe leading therefrom.

3. In a furnace or heater of the character specified, the combination with walls forming a combustion-chamber of a series of independent, hot-air pipes contained therein, which pipes, placed near together, are made rounding at their lower ends and more fiattened or oval-shaped as they extend upward to converge in over the fire-pot of the furnace, a fiat plate of relatively large diameter for receiving and supporting the tops of said pipes, said plate having holes or openings formed therein to register with or in continuation of the hot-air passages through said pipes, a casting of dome-like character resting upon said plate with inclined edges, having exterior and interior bearing and forming an internal hot-air chamber, and pipe connections forming hotair passages C4 leading from said internal hot-air chamber through the top wall of the combustion-chamber.

4. In a furnace or heater of the character specified, the combination with a fire-pot of a plate fixed to extend laterally from the upper edge thereof, the tubular shell B surmounted by the top or crown sheet B2 resting upon said plate and formative of a combustionchamber having a smoke-outlet disposed centrally through its said top or crown sheet, a smoke-pipe on the outside leading laterally therefrom and upon the inside of said combustion-chamber a series of independent, hotair pipes mounted upon the said plate and registering with holes cut therein, a relatively wide, fiat plate for supporting the upper ends of said independent pipes, said plate having a removable center, a casting with inclined exterior and interior sides, resting upon said plate to form an internal hot-air chamber, and pipe connections forming passages which extend from said internal hot-air chamber through the top or crown sheet B2 of said combustion chamber, substantially as described.

5. In a furnace or heater of the character specified, walls disposed to form a combustionchamber having in combination therewith the interior pipes B4 forming air-passages, the annular pipe-supporting ring B5, the annular interior dome-like casting B mounted upon said annular ring and pipe forming connections connecting the said annular dome-like casting B with the upper wall of the combustion-chamber, substantially as described.

6. In a furnace or heater of the character specified, the combination of a series of members forming a cup jointure with each other, the same comprising' the annular plate B, xed to the fire-pot of said furnace to extend laterally therefrom, the tubular shell B mounted upon and making cup jointure with said plate, the top or crown sheet B2 mounted upon and making cup jointure along the top edge of said tubular shell B', said top or crown sheet having a central smoke outlet or opening bf, the smoke-pipe B3 leading therefrom and making cup jointure withsaid top or crown sheet all around its smoke outlet or opening, the interior hot-air pipes B4 resting upon said plate B and making cup jointure therewith around openings formed therein, a relatively fiat, pipe-supporting plate B5 making cup jointure with the upper ends of said pipes, the casting B5 resting upon said pla-te with its inclined sides making' exterior and interior cup jointure therewith, said casting having pipe-sections L16 making cup jointure with pipe-sections 517 of the top or crown sheet aforesaid, substantially as described.

7 In a furnace or heater of the character specified, a lower-radiating-wall forming a por- IOO IIO

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tion of the inelosure for the Combustion-Chamber, an upper rotative dome mounted upon the same, said dome having holes or openings formed therein, a structure Within the Combustion-ehamher forming heat-passages eX- tending through the same, which interior strueture cooperates with said dome that the heatpassages vformed thereby may be extended through the said holes or openings formed therein, and means for forming the upper portion of said interior structure to loe rotative With said dome.

8. In a furnace or heater or' the character specified, the combination of the tubular wall B', the upper dome-like Wall B2 mounted upon the top edge or' the same, the interior pipes B4, the annular, pipe-supporting ring B", the annular, interior, dome-like casting B mount- EDGAR WV. ANTHONY.

Titnesses F. F. RAYMOND, Qd, v J. E. R. HAYES. 

